Collaboration is increasingly difficult and increasingly necessary. Often, to get something done that really matters to us, we need to work with people we don’t agree with or like or trust. Adam Kahane has faced this challenge many times, working on big issues like democracy and jobs and climate change and on everyday issues in organizations and families. He has learned that our conventional understanding of collaboration—that it requires a harmonious team that agrees on where it’s going, how it’s going to get there, and who needs to do what—is wrong. Instead, we need a new approach to collaboration that embraces discord, experimentation, and genuine cocreation—which is exactly what Kahane provides in this groundbreaking and timely book.  
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In the era where collaboration is becoming more crucial yet challenging, ‘Collaborating with the Enemy’ by Adam Kahane stands as a beacon of guidance for those who find themselves working with individuals they don’t necessarily agree with or like, or trust. The book offers practical insights, especially relevant to tackling complex issues such as democracy, jobs, climate change, and even everyday organizational and familial matters.

The author dispels the conventional notion of collaboration as a harmonious team that unanimously agrees on directions, methods, and roles. Instead, Kahane promotes a new approach to collaboration that thrives on discord, experimentation, and genuine co-creation. This alternative perspective is not only refreshing but also timely, given the current landscape of divisive opinions and differing viewpoints.

The book provides valuable lessons learned from Kahane’s experiences working with diverse groups. One key takeaway is that even those who disagree profoundly can still come together to address pressing issues. Whether in our businesses, governments, communities, or personal lives, we can all benefit from the wisdom contained within these pages.

Moreover, Kahane demonstrates how adopting different perspectives can help us navigate this intricate landscape. He abandons traditional thinking patterns to tackle the most stubborn problems, showing us a path toward effective action in a complex world.

In summary, ‘Collaborating with the Enemy’ is a must-read for anyone seeking to improve their collaboration skills, bridge divides, and find common ground amidst disagreements. It deserves a place alongside classics such as Sun Tzu’s ‘The Art of War’ and Machiavelli’s ‘The Prince.’

  • Offers practical guidance for how to work with diverse others, which is a precondition for confronting many of the complex challenges we face.Morris Rosenberg, President, Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation
  • Collaboration is increasingly difficult and increasingly necessary. Often, to get something done that really matters to us, we need to work with people we dont agree with or like or trust. Adam Kahane has faced this challenge many times, working on big issues like democracy and jobs and climate change and on everyday issues in organizations and families. He has learned that our conventional understanding of collaborationthat it requires a harmonious team that agrees on where its going, how its going to get there, and who needs to do whatis wrong. Instead, we need a new approach to collaboration that embraces discord, experimentation, and genuine cocreationwhich is exactly what Kahane provides in this groundbreaking and timely book.
  • Kahane shows that people who dont see eye-to-eye really can come together to solve big challenges. Whether in our businesses, our governments, our communities, or our personal lives, we can all benefit from this smart and timely book.Mark Tercek, former President, The Nature Conservancy and coauthor of
  • Natures Fortune
  • Shows us how thinking and seeing differently can help us navigate this challenging landscape. Kahane abandons orthodoxy in taking on the most intransigent problems, showing us the path to effective action in a complex world.
  • James Gimian, coauthor of
  • The Rules of Victory
  • Collaborating with the Enemy
  • belongs on the same shelf as Sun Tzus
  • The Art of War
  • and Machiavellis
  • The Prince
  • .Stephen Huddart, President, The J.W. McConnell Family Foundation
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